'Black Lightning' Season 3 Episode 13 Review: 'The Book of Markovia: Chapter Four' sees the team come together
Spoiler alert for Season 3 Episode 13 of 'Black Lightning' - 'The Book of Markovia: Chapter Four'
This episode has been a very long time coming and it does not disappoint. The threat of the Markovians has been an imminent threat as far back as Season 2. Last episode, they made their move and now, Black Lightning (Cress Williams) and his team strike back. It's an all-out superhero team-up that ramps things up for a show as local as 'Black Lightning' has been (not counting the 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' crossover), and delivers on spectacle, style and superpowers.
Even with that, however, some of the more interesting moments were the quieter ones between Jefferson Pierce and Peter Gambi (James Remar). The two have not had a lot of quiet moments together - not since Season 1, really - and even through video, the moments shine. Gambi has been Black Lightning's number one supporter right from the pilot episode. If anyone can remind Jefferson what it means to be a superhero, it's Gambi.
Quieter moments aside, the team coming together is truly exciting to see. Though they never officially call themselves the Outsiders, it's a team-up enough to be worth exploring more in Season 4. The CW Arrowerse shows have always excelled in building up an excellent supporting cast and having a Team Black Lightning feels like the final step in welcoming 'Black Lightning' to a post-Crisis Earth-Prime on the Arrowverse slate. Painkiller (Jordan Calloway) has had one of the most interesting arcs on the entire series and seeing him step into his own as a hero and using his Painkiller skills for good - was extremely gratifying.
The action in this episode was incredible - especially with the addition of Wayne Brady's Gravedigger, who makes his first appearance this episode. Though he was taken out, he's not down for the count and he's likely going to make quite the formidable opponent in the episodes to come. Between him, the escaped Tobias Whale and an ASA that still occupies Freeland and most definitely can't be trusted, it's probably good that Black Lightning now has a team of heroes backing him up.
The next episode of 'Black Lightning' airs February 24, on The CW.